MIR ROR 11.7.2018
A CALL TO ACTION |2
THOSE PEOPLE ON THE CORNER OF THE GREEN | 4
SENIOR COLUMN: HAVANA AFFAIR |8 JEE SEOB JUNG/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF
2 //MIRR OR
Editors’ Note
A Call To Action STORY
MICHAEL LIN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF
The last few weeks, and months, have been pretty crazy — news of mailed pipe bombs, an accusation of sexual assault by a Supreme Court nominee and yet another mass shooting driven by anti-Semitism have left many in this country reeling. More recently and more close to home, last Friday’s shooting incident and subsequent campus shelter advisory put many students on edge. These events have left many of us itching for change. Yesterday, perhaps, was a chance for us to tell the world how we feel. With an urgency unmatched by other midterm elections, countless of our peers urged one another to go vote. Thus, in this issue of the Mirror, “Let’s Get Political.”
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11.7.18 VOL. CLXXV NO. 99 MIRROR EDITORS MARIE-CAPUCINE PINEAUVALENCIENNE CAROLYN ZHOU ASSOCIATE MIRROR NIKHITA HINGORANI EDITORS ELIZA JANE SCHAEFFER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ZACHARY BENJAMIN & ACTING PUBLISHER EXECUTIVE EDITORS IOANA SOLOMON AMANDA ZHOU
By Zachary Gorman
Over the past few months, it was difficult to miss the barrage of reminders regarding the importance of voting in this year’s midterm elections. This was especially true at Dartmouth, where members of the College Democrats became somewhat notorious for standing around on campus and asking passersbys whether they were interested in voting for Democrats in New Hampshire this year. The College Democrats’ rigorous efforts to get out the vote — and the forthrightness with which they addressed passing students — could have come as a bit of a surprise to those who weren’t accustomed to such campaigning. The College Democrats themselves recognized the issues that might arise when approaching potential student voters, and hoped to tailor their message to the situation. Max Brautigam ’20, president of the College Democrats, explains that the Democrats around campus were not focused on convincing students to vote for Democrats, but to mobilize Democratic voters. “We’re not trying to persuade people,” Brautigam said. “We know that persuading people is hard. It’s not a good use of our time. It’s not efficient, it’s not effective [and] it’s very hard to train people to convince other people to change their political ideology or their party affiliation … At this point [in time], we’re all about getting out the vote.” Though Brautigam believes that it was too late in the campaign to use persuasion techniques when talking with voters, the general strategy of the Democrats’ effort changed as election day neared. Through the first few weeks of the fall term, their ultimate strategy was to find students who were interested in voting and to stay in touch with them to make sure that they did so. “For most of the term, probably the first two thirds, we were looking for [students] to commit to vote and … join a mailing and call list so that we can keep in touch with them about voting,” Brautigam said. “Our goal is to have the most conversations possible with people. We talk to them about what their plan is for voting, or if they have any concerns or questions about eligibility for voting or [voter] registration.” Later in the term, the Democrats focused on the specifics when talking to potential voters in order to ensure that everything was set for them to go to the polls. “Right now, we’re dealing with [people’s] plans for voting,”
Brautigam said. “[For example], ‘Visualize it with me. What time are you going? Do you know where to go? Who are you going with? Do you know what to bring?’ Because there are a lot of people who’ll be like, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll vote!’ and they have the intention of voting, but it’s not a high priority for them or they don’t get around to doing it. And a big part of that is because they haven’t written it in their calendar or they haven’t made a concrete plan of when in their day it makes the most sense for them to go [vote].” Although they claim they were not interested in convincing people to change their political allegiances, the College Democrats did hope to give Democratic voters the motivation that they needed to go to the polls. Michael Parsons ’20, a member of the College Democrats’ executive board, believes that it is important to stress the importance of individual votes when conducting get-out-the-vote efforts. “One thing we really want to highlight is how important it is to vote, whether it be in your home state or here in New Hampshire,” Parsons said. “It’s really a case of, ‘What do you want to see represented?’ ... We want people to vote [with] their values and, most importantly, just vote. Because it’s a turnout game, especially here in New Hampshire … and it’s really important for [Dartmouth students] to turn out to vote to elect Democrats. For instance, [New Hampshire U.S. Senator] Maggie Hassan ... won her race by 1,017 votes. That’s less than a class at Dartmouth.” The College Democrats recognized that it could be difficult to effectively convey their message to potential student voters when simply approaching them in public spaces. Samuel Zarkower ’20, treasurer of the College Democrats, says that the group aimed for volunteers to be courteous and empathetic in order to connect with other students. “You have to make sure that [volunteers talking to potential voters] are respectful, but that they are willing to … try to get people out to the polls,” Zarkower said. “If the person is not interested in voting, if they’re from a different state and they’d rather just stay [voting there], or if they’d rather not vote at all, just let them go on their way. But if you think you see an opening, a common interest or something that they’re really passionate about when you’re talking with them … you talk about
that.” Additionally, Brautigam believes that the specific wording used by volunteers was important to connecting with the maximum number of students — including some who do not identify as Democrats — while minimizing the time spent on uninterested students. “A lot of [students] vote with the Democrats and they don’t consider themselves Democrats,” Brautigam said. “[That’s] part of the reason why we would say, ‘Are you planning on voting with the Democrats?’ rather than ‘Are you a Democrat?’ At the same time, [this strategy] very clearly distinguish[es] what we’re doing … Someone who already knows for sure that they’re not going to be voting with the Democrats is going to know not to waste their time or waste our time. I think cross-party conversations are very important … but that’s an instance in which [our strategy] really streamlines the process of contacting the people who we align with.” Though some students may have become somewhat annoyed after being approached by a member of the College Democrats while walking about campus, Zarkower argues that the club’s get-out-thevote tactics had a positive impact. “The alternative is [that] our voice will not be heard,” Zarkower said. “If people aren’t going out there pushing people to go and express themselves, then we’re more likely to be apathetic. And when we’re apathetic, our opinions and our positions aren’t heard at all. Historically, young voters have been one of the smallest [voting] groups despite our large population size. And in a true democracy, the more people you have voting, the more democratic it is. So it’s very important work, even if it might annoy people a little bit, which I understand.” Similarly, Brautigam believes that the College Democrats’ effort to drive up student turnout successfully adhered to the core beliefs of the party at large. “We like to think of ourselves as the people’s party. And we simply cannot do that and hold our heads high and know that we’re doing it right if the people aren’t voting,” Brautigam said. “Young people vote at atrocious rates compared to senior citizens or even middle-aged adults. If people are wondering why our government doesn’t reflect them, it’s because it’s being elected by people who aren’t them. So that’s the key. If you don’t like it, you have the power to change it.”
MIRROR //3
Relationships Across the Aisle STORY
By Novi Zhukovsky
We all have one — the crazy, political party that they aligned with radical, get-in-your-face uncle, the that I didn’t support,” Smith said. one you talk to only once a year at “Whenever we had disagreements, Thanksgiving because he makes sure it was about specific policies. But to pull up a chair next to you, smile sometimes it was hard to understand and ask how you’ve been. You know how what I thought were their values him — you spend the night trying to contributed to how they were voting.” dodge any politically charged topic Smith also doubts the two can be that might propel him into high separated. gear. You bring up any subject you “I think that your political views can think of to distract him from his are a reflection of your general goal — the weather, arcane Scrabble value system,” she said. “It’s hard rules, updates on your mother’s to acknowledge that someone may blooming herb garden. But let down be a really nice person, but that they your guard for one minute and next agree with a political figure who is thing you know, you’re half an hour not a good person.” into a high-octane lecture on the Political differences have now illegitimacy of capitalism and the compelled Smith to question some of coming revolution. It’s just one night her relationships. The Supreme Court though, and by your second serving nomination hearings for Judge Brett of pumpkin Kavanaugh pie, the words w e r e a are passing in “There’s a sort of watershed. After and out of your tribalism that’s easy to a particularly ears as easily disturbing as the velvety fall into when it comes conver sation, whipped cream to political debates. she was forced has disappeared to reconsider Especially when you’re from your plate. the future of a B u t w h a t faced with someone friendship. happens when you disagree with, it And to you’re faced with her surprise, she can cause you to take political conflicts was compelled you can’t zone an even more radical to ask herself out from? What a question view.” if they come she never had at you in your before: how home or in your - ISABEL CALIHAN ’22 might remaining school? friends with that Fo r K a t i e person reflect on Smith ’22, a her? politically vocal Smith Democrat in the predominantly also realized that her relative privilege Republican state of Texas, political enabled her — if she chose — to disagreement was a fact of life, overlook controversial stances on especially at her high school. As policies because they may not apply a member of the Junior State of to her. America, Smith was responsible “One reason I can even consider for facilitating political discussions putting these differences aside is among her classmates. However, her because the policies may not directly attempts did not always produce a affect me,” Smith admitted. “It makes constructive exchange of ideas. me feel guilty.” “They often got really rowdy, Jason Sorens, gover nment and there were people who were professor at Dartmouth, believes frequently disrespectful,” Smith said. that these struggles are a reflection “One time, someone made a really of our increasingly polarized political derogatory comment about Hilary environment. Clinton, specifically referring to “All the evidence we have suggests Bill’s infidelities. There was definitely that our world has become more [substantive] discussion going on, but polarized,” Sorens said. then when the climate became more Sorens explained how liberal and polarized, it got kind of iffy.” conservative belief systems are now Smith also faced the issue of “clearly sorted” into Democratic and having two close high school friends Republican parties, respectively. who stood on opposite ends of the “And in addition to that, we seem political spectrum. This presented to have some additional ideological her with the problem of trying to polarization that happens as a result reconcile the love she felt for them of partisan rationalization,” he said. with their rigidly-held political “What this means is that people take beliefs. cues from their own party’s leader “It did get to be a little bit difficult about what they should believe on at times. I knew that they were good policy questions.” people, but there were aspects of the Sorens also believes another factor
that aggravates polarization is a rise in out-party hostility. “We still do not see that a majority of partisans have negative attitudes toward people of the other party, but much larger percentages do now than have in the past,” he said. He also points out that “a large minority of both Democrats and Republicans report that they would prefer that their child not marry someone of a different party. A few decades ago, that figure was in the single digits.” Sorens has also observed a shocking escalation in the centrality of political identity. He explains there is a recent trend for Americans to change their religious views in order to bring them into better alignment with their political opinions. In previous generations, even centuries, one assumed that religious conviction was primary. M u ch o f t h i s d a n g e ro u s polarization may be based on false assumptions. According to Sorens, many people think the differences between Democrats and Republicans are much more important than they are in reality. “Most of the things that Republicans and Democrats argue about are within the so-called ‘forty-yard lines’ of the political spectrum and really are not issues of fundamental value difference,” Sorens said. As the distortion of these schisms grows, and as individuals tend to view members of the other party as more homogeneous than they actually are, they will end up viewing the opposing party as a “monolithic other,” when it isn’t. Yet Sorens believes that these misconceptions can be rectified, as long as people are willing to check their own biases. “I see some glimmers of hope in the so-called rationality community that focuses on overcoming your biases and actually stepping out of your own perspective and thinking, ‘Am I seeing things from a biased perspective, or am I really seeing the full picture?’” Sorens said. The sad truth is that there is little reason to tone down the polarizing rhetoric. When it comes to politics, there is less incentive to be selfreflective, as “you don’t have to pay a personal cost for being completely biased,” Sorens explained. But, Sorens has faith that the nation’s divisions can be overcome. “I do have hope. Especially if we treat [open-mindedness and curiosity] as praiseworthy in society,” Sorens said. “If we look at people who break these partisan or ideological barriers and praise them, I think that it would make other people emulate
their actions.” Isabel Calihan ’22 shares with Smith the experience of being exposed to a variety of political views. Both within the suburbs of Pittsburgh, where she grew up, and in her immediate family, she knew people of many political stripes. Calihan’s family loved political debate and discussion. “Every night at dinner, my dad would pull out a newspaper clipping and read it to us and ask us to discuss it,” Calihan said. She also notes that her politically inclined and vocal family caused her to challenge her own beliefs regularly, and also trained her to be able to explain and defend them. Although most of their discussions ended amicably, Calihan notes that it was easy sometimes to get caught up in the heat of battle. “There’s a sort of tribalism that’s easy to fall into when it comes to political debates,” she said. “Especially when you’re faced with someone you disagree with, it can cause you to take an even more radical view.” Despite the occasional frustration, Calihan believes that her family environment enabled her to be more open-minded when it came to political differences and taught her to engage in constructive political discourse. “Because I love my family, and I know them to be very smart and caring, when I watched them look at
the same facts and come to different conclusions as me, I learned that I am not always right,” Calihan said. “I am open to having my mind changed, which I think is something that most people aren’t willing to do anymore.” For Calihan, engaging in political discussion pushed her to embrace political differences, and see the possibility for political opinions to be dynamic and change over time. “Politics shouldn’t be something that we divide ourselves into camps over,” Calihan said. “It should be something that is constantly evolving. People should follow their values and stay informed, but more importantly, be open to letting the world change their beliefs.” As Sorens and Calihan suggest, there may be hope for what currently ails us. Although it takes time, patience and self-reflection, listening to the other side might lead us to better ideas. Perhaps more importantly, it may allow us to see that our differences are not as large as they seem. So next time you see your crazy uncle and think you’d rather escape down the basement than hear him out, maybe you’ll engage with him. Who knows? You may just be surprised to learn your beliefs aren’t so polarized, and that they all stem from similar core values. And through that realization, you will have bridged the gap with one person. And maybe, with time and open-minds, we will all see eye to eye.
4// MIRROR
Those People On The Corner Of The Green STORY
By Eliza Jane Schaeffer
Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. about race relations. It’s rainy, it’s cold. I’m sitting in the From these discussions came the basement of the Hanover Public Upper Valley chapter of SURJ. Library — a personal first — with SURJ is a national organization, three women and men, all of whom with chapters in 46 states as well as are comfortably three times my age. Canada, that seeks to “undermine We’re discussing race relations. white support for white supremacy We’re all white. and to help build a racially just The aforementioned people are society.” According to SURJ, Fran Brokaw, Carol Rougvie and responsibility for dismantling the Reverend John Gregory-Davis. racist system within which we live Brokaw and Rougvie are retired, belongs to the group that created but Gregory-Davis is a pastor at it: white people. Meriden Congregational Church “The advantages that white in Meriden, New Hampshire. You people have were all created by may not recognize their names our ancestors,” Brokaw explained. or their faces, but if you are a “So, it’s incumbent on us to act to Dartmouth student or a Hanover disrupt that … We do have [people resident, I can say with almost of color] giving us advice and absolute certainty that you’ve feedback, but we don’t ask them to seen them do the work unless "The advantages that before. they want to.” Between white people have White people 5 and 6 organizing around p.m. every were all created by racial justice is M o n d a y , our ancestors. So, it's admittedly not Ro u g v i e, something you see incumbent on us to B r o k a w, a lot. But in a state G r e g o r y - act to disrupt that ... that is 94 percent D a v i s We do have [people of white, it’s necessary. and other “Especially members of color] giving us advice in a place that the Upper and feedback, but we is so racially Va l l e y homogenous, it is chapter of don't ask them to do really empowering S t a n d i n g the work unless they to see them out Up for t h e re, ” Ke n ny want to." R a c i a l Coleman ’20 said. Justice “As a person of stand on the -FRAN BROKAW, MEMBER color, I think a cor ner of lot about [racial OF THE UPPER VALLEY the Green, justice], and I’ve at t h e CHAPTER OF STANDING been upset with the intersection lack of allies.” UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE of Main The most visible S t r e e t part of their work is a n d We s t the monthly vigils. Wheelock Street, holding Black These started “when there was a Lives Matter signs. They’ve done lot of national publicity about the this for three years, rain or shine or shootings of young black men and — because this is New Hampshire women,” Brokaw said. — snow. At first, the group only held a I see them frequently, and prior vigil in response to a shooting, but to our conversation, I had always when they came to be more aware wondered: what could they possibly of how regularly shootings occur, hope to gain from reminding they felt they needed to do it more (largely liberal) college students regularly, Brokaw explained. and Hanover residents that Black “Initially, it was just for our own Lives Matter? sanity ... We felt like we can’t just As I learned on Wednesday, Oct. sit doing nothing,” she said. 17 in the basement of the Hanover They chose to hold vigils on Public Library: a lot. that particular corner of the Green The Upper Valley chapter because they had seen other groups of SURJ officially launched in do the same, and they chose to do 2015. One year prior, Rougvie so at that particular time (5 to 6 and a colleague had taken a p.m.) because they hoped to “catch continuing education class through people’s eyes as they are driving Dartmouth with professor Ellen home” from work, Brokaw said. Bettmann. The class, called Unused to calling attention “Difficult Conversations About to themselves or to making bold Race,” inspired Rougvie and her political statements, both Rougvie colleague to start a discussion a n d B ro k aw i n i t i a l l y fo u n d group that would meet monthly for “vigiling” to be frightening. It was discussions, mediated by Bettmann, far out of their comfort zones to be
out in public, holding a Black Lives Rougvie, the group hosts monthly who look like them. Matter sign and taking a stand. community meetings at which However, Rougvie, GregoryThey both, however, recognize the they screen films, host speakers Davis and Brokaw readily admitted irrationality of their fear. and discuss issues of race and that a large part of what they do “Could you possibly think of a impediments to economic parity. is, as Brokaw phrased it, “for their safer thing?” Brokaw said. “We’re These meetings draw a crowd of own sanity.” older white women in Hanover, anywhere from eight to 50 people, “Once your eyes are opened up, across from the Hanover Inn. Brokaw said. you can’t live with yourself unless What’s the worst thing that could According to Rougvie, one of you’re doing something active,” happen?” the more crowded meetings was Brokaw explained. The worst thing that could held after an incident in which fliers She described her “awakening” happen, they containing white as a “kick in the stomach.” s o o n f o u n d "Could you possibly supremacist Rougvie has come to realize how out, was messaging were oppressively white her world is. heckling from think of a safer thing? placed under the “I don’t have that warmth and passersby. windshield wipers richness that comes with knowing We're older white T h e of cars parked different kinds of people and women in Hanover, comments i n t h e U p p e r learning to understand different are generally across from the Valley Plaza in cultures,” she said. degrading yet Hanover Inn. What's Lebanon, New Rougvie added that because of unaggressive. Hampshire. this, she has “come to feel that [she the worst thing that People driving At the meeting, is] impoverished.” by give them could happen?" the group Brokaw, on the other hand, the middle p r a c t i c e d is newly aware of how diverse finger or r e w r i t i n g t h e her world is. Having grown up s h o u t “ a l l -FRAN BROKAW, MEMBER Va l l e y N e w s and lived in predominately white lives matter,” OF UPPER VALLEY coverage, which communities, she found herself Brokaw said. Rougvie labeled subconsciously “erasing” people of In the same CHAPTER OF STANDING “milquetoast,” color, only seeing that with which b re at h , s h e UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE and w r o t e she was familiar. mentioned — to municipal Listening to them describe the in a matter-ofgovernments in personal growth which has come fact tone that seemed inconsistent New Hampshire and Vermont. as a product of their activism, I with the gravity of the comment One of the write-ups from this reflected on my original question, — that one evening someone meeting was published in the Valley the source of my curiosity: what screamed “shoot all the effing n—s.’ News as a letter to the editor. could these people possibly hope Coleman was surprised but This letter to the editor served to gain from reminding (largely not shocked to hear that SURJ as concrete evidence of the group’s liberal) college students and had received negative feedback. impact, but for most of its efforts, it Hanover residents that Black Lives Hanover is a liberal college town is difficult to pinpoint indicators of Matter? where over 80 percent of voters success. According to Rougvie, they Racism is bad. I think we can voted for Hillary in 2016, but it usually rely all agree on that is not immune to racism. In fact, on anecdotal "No matter how racist one. What do we Coleman feels that struggles faced e v i d e n c e . do about it? That’s by people of color “are kind of W h e n or non-racist I might far less clear. swept under the rug because we p e o p l e be as an individual, I t h i n k i t ’s are a so-called liberal place” where subscribe to tempting to do that's not the point. that sort of thing is not supposed their email nothing, especially to happen. listserv, or I'm part of a racist when doing It’s easy to forget about racism come to their system." something feels when you’re white. community like doing nothing. This is something that Brokaw, m e e t i n g s , Tackling racism, Gregory-Davis and Rougvie of o r e n g a g e -REVEREND JOHN one heart and which have become acutely aware. i n t h e i r mind at a time, is GREGORY-DAVIS, “A lot of people fit into the m o n t h l y akin to clearing a category of good, white people,” discussions PASTOR AT MERIDEN sandbox grain by Brokaw said. “They think they’re about race CONGREGATIONAL grain. But infinitely doing the right thing, and they’re or stop to slower and far less generally liberal and don’t think of thank those CHURCH AND MEMBER tangible. themselves as racist because there’s “ v i g i l i n g, ” OF THE UPPER VALLEY One response to no interpersonal racism.” they feel the overwhelming CHAPTER OF STANDING Gregory-Davis agreed. that their vastness of this “No matter how racist or non- hard work UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE problem is to racist I might be as an individual, was worth forget about it, to that’s not the point. I’m part of a their while. pretend it’s not racist system,” Gregory-Davis said. They also collect donations for there. Another response is to regain And that racist system will local not-for-profit groups that control in the only way you can: continue to exist so long as we do are run by or benefiting people of by changing yourself and hoping nothing to actively dismantle it, color, Brokaw said. One of their others follow suit. At its core, SURJ even if we are at the same time favorites is Living Proof Mentoring, is a network of people pursuing the doing nothing to actively support a nonprofit based out of Hartford, latter. it. Vermont that connects children And as Gregory-Davis pointed Thus, a large part of what SURJ of color adopted into white or out, in the Upper Valley, “the does is education. According to multiracial families with mentors mission field is huge.”
MIRROR //5
First In The Nation STORY
By Helen Horan
From Kennedy to Obama, from trip to the wooded enclave here Reagan to Bush, countless presidents in Hanover, New Hampshire is have visited our campus while still a popular and purposeful one. just hopeful candidates, their eager Dartmouth is a frequent (and early) eyes set on the stop along the Oval Office but campaign "[A stop in New their immediate trail, providing efforts focused Hampshire is] a students with a on N e w statement [indicating first-hand look Hampshire at the election v o t e r s . interest of running a and the chance Dartmouth is presidential campaign] to meet potential a distinguished future leaders of p r e s i d e n t i a l ... not a conclusive our nation. The campaign pit statement, but it is a combination stop and has clue." of New been host to H a m p s h i re ’s a total of six f i r s t - i n p r e s i d e n t i a l -MAX BRAUTIGAM '20, the-nation d e b at e s ove r primar y, and PRESIDENT OF THE the years. The its prominent walls of our DARTMOUTH COLLEGE swing state college hold status, makes DEMOCRATS the promises t h e s t at e a n of presidents’ essential place past — their for candidates invigorating from both attempts to parties to focus excite voter s their ef forts. and spirited rhetoric during debates. Nearly every politician who plans For presidential candidates, the on running for president will
concentrate first and foremost in 28. Brautigam explained there is New Hampshire and Iowa. a decent chance Booker will run Typically, candidates begin to in 2020. However, the senator show political seeds here one or has not yet explicitly made an two (or even announcement. three!) years The College "A good candidate in advance of Democrats play the race, then is one that has a an important return to the clear message, has role in bringing state again politicians to closer to the a message that campus, thereby primary. providing them a is positive and is Fo r M a x platform to speak B r a u t i g a m somebody who stays and students the ’20, president on message." chance to listen. of the The New Dartmouth Hampshire C o l l e g e -GOVERNMENT primary season Democrats, a PROFESSOR LINDA began early at stop in New Dartmouth last FOWLER Hampshire is January with a visit “a statement from Democratic ... not a congressman conclusive John Delaney of statement, but Maryland, the it is a clue.” first prominent Political figures, such as Senator Democrat to announce his running Cory Booker, generate momentum in the 2020 election. The College for themselves in the state through also hosted Democratic presidential events such as the one at Dartmouth, prospects Martin O’Malley and which took place on Sunday, Oct. Jason Kander last spring. Neither have definitively declared they are running in 2020, but O’Malley, former governor of Maryland, has expressed interest. Kander’s candidacy seems less likely given his recent withdrawal from the Kansas City Mayoral race on account of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In terms of the 2020 race, government professor Linda Fowler believes the problem for the Democrats will be an excess of candidates. The situation of 2016 could repeat itself: too many candidates running splits up votes until one mild favorite develops a lead and cannot be stopped. However, no liberal Trump-like figure has emerged to date. For the number of candidates that do come to Dartmouth, which Fowler explained is less than the number that visits the University of New Hampshire or Saint Anselm, where a greater portion of New Hampshire’s population lives, those that are clear and optimistic will be successful. “A good candidate is one that has a clear message, has a message that is positive and is somebody who stays on message,” Fowler said. Brautigam noted that the College Democrats would love to host Kirsten Gillibrand again, a Dartmouth alumna and one of the most likely contenders for 2020, according to The Washington Post. Nonetheless, Brautigam explained that while presidential races get a lot of attention, they are only a fraction of the conversation. In terms of the actual laws and policies that affect
people on a daily basis, the president is of little importance in comparison to local representatives. Brautigam reiterated the importance of voting in this year’s midterm elections in order to set the groundwork for the next few years. In fact, many students actually choose to come to Dartmouth because of its politically active campus and the opportunities that arise in a “purple” state. And if politics is not an initial allure for students to the College, many still become more involved when they get here through the rallies, TV show tapings, Get Out The Vote events, and candidates’ lectures at town halls. Dartmouth can be considered a hub of political engagement, as controversial speakers stir up protests and students splash their nalgenes with political stickers. Still, throughout our nation, the turnout rate for young people to the polls is abysmally low, especially in midterms, lagging behind any other age group by a large amount. But the personal visits to campuses, i.e. to Dartmouth, especially by presidential candidates, seems to make a real difference in terms of voting. When a candidate invigorates the student body, civic engagement transcends from a chore to an exciting standard. Such is the case in 2008 when Obama visited. A New York Times article recounting Obama’s visit to campus on primary day in 2008 claimed it was difficult to find a student that day who hadn’t voted and hadn’t voted for Obama . The article begins with, “If there was a place in the state of New Hampshire that Barack Obama could say he ‘owned’ — and he might use that exact word, when speaking to this crowd — it would be Dartmouth College.” Throughout his campaign, the former president visited Dartmouth a number of times for rallies and speeches. Obama’s youth and energy elevated the level of political excitement on campus. His enthusiastic welcome was unmatched by other candidates like Hillary Clinton or John Edwards; Bill Clinton even “bored” students to the point of them walking out during his speech, according to the article. But the personal and spiritual inspiration Obama captured caused many to get up and go to the polls. Hopefully, we will see this same fever repeat itself in the coming two years. Perhaps we can surpass the cruelty, emotionality and polarization that defines politics today and relive those brighter, now seemingly glorious, 2008 days of excitement, on both sides.
6 //MIR ROR
Voting and Voice: Registering in New Hampshire STORY
By Christina Baris
When was the first time you one’s voice. The independence of realized that you had a voice? college allows for the opportunity No, not the first time your mom to remain uninfluenced by sources recorded you speaking your very that might have swayed their first words — when did you decide decisions in the past. College is that those words held power, or also often accompanied with a that they were capable of having an movement across the country, impact? For some, this realization meaning that students’ voices occurred rather quickly — maybe are now projected to an entirely it was during second grade, when different audience. During the you stood up for the shy kid who month of November, the power of was picked on, or maybe you our voices is particularly powerful, ran for student as Election Day body president highlights how “I think it’s important in middle school our voices can and encouraged that when you’re quite literally yo u r h i s t o r y casting your vote that shape the future. teacher to instate I n it actually matters in no homework p a r t i c u l a r , Wednesdays. when it comes the election.” H o w e v e r , to voting, it is many people are important to often silenced; - SACHIN SHIVA ’22 maximize the too many times power of one’s t h e y h a v e voice. T here witnessed their a re s t r at e g i c voices fade into the background, measures people can take to ensure unaccounted for. These individuals that their voices are as impactful as may believe that their voices are possible. One specific measure that unimportant and do not matter. pertains to Dartmouth students For many people, the beginning is the option to register to vote of college signifies the chance to in New Hampshire, as opposed solidify — and possibly define — to voting in one’s home state via
an absentee ballot. According to the Brookings Institute, the New Hampshire primary is among the most important primaries in the country, in part because it is the first. Additionally, New Hampshire has been classified as a swing state, meaning that both political parties have similar levels of support. These factors can influence Dartmouth students’ decisions when considering their voting options. New Hampshire’s swing state status is especially influential for students whose home state has a constant voting pattern. “ M y h o m e s t at e i s ve r y Democratic, so because I’m a Democrat, my vote probably won’t have as much of a presence in that state,” Ellie Baker ’22 said. It can be easy to feel unimportant if your personal political beliefs are consistent with the predicted outcome. However, voting in New Hampshire — where the outcome is not as easily predictable — allows some students to feel that their voices are more impactful. “California tends to continually go blue, so because New Hampshire
is more of a swing state I think that blue state. my vote has more of an opportunity “[Your vote] definitely matters to have an impact,” Baker said. more in New Hampshire, just T his statement ref lects a in ter ms of New Hampshire common theme being a swing that people’s votes “California tends to s t a t e , a n d can matter more your vote has continually go blue, d e p e n d i n g o n more power which state they so because New here than any vote in. Baker Hampshire is more of a other place in is excited by the the country,” prospect of her swing state I think my Shiva said. vote having a vote has more of an F o r bigger impact. S h i v a , t h e opportunity to have an “ [ I t ’ s ] a n weight one’s exciting position impact.” v o t e h o l d s to be in, especially is incredibly with the New important. H a m p s h i r e - ELLIE BAKER ’22 “I think it’s legislation trying important that to pass laws that when you’re will limit our vote. casting your It’s an especially vote that it exciting time to be able to have a actually matters in the election,” vote,” Baker said. Shiva said. Choosing which state to vote in Shiva believes that voting in is an important decision that varies New Hampshire is particularly depending on the student. Baker important when considering the notes that it is largely dependent future presidential election. on the home state of each student “I would highly recommend and their political views. voting here in New Hampshire, Some students, such as Rohith especially in this district,” Shiva Mandavilli ’22, choose to vote in said. “There’s this law called HB their home state via an absentee 1264 that was signed into law ballot. Mandavilli highlights that by Governor Sununu that goes it is “important to participate in a into effect in 2019, so if we don’t democracy” and relates the idea vote in the Democratic governor, of not voting to the ‘tragedy of the that means that students would commons’ … if you don’t [vote], have to have a New Hampshire nobody else will.” This idea stems driver’s license to vote here in New from the notion that decisions may Hampshire in 2020.” seem insignificant at the personal It is evident that being informed level, but if all individuals behave on current legislations can help in a similar destructive manner, students decide where to vote and the entire population can suffer. how to optimize the power of their Choosing to vote in one’s home voices. state can also be W e a result of being “I think definitely a l l c r a v e more infor med a sense of o n p o l i t i c s i n having structures importance; one’s home state. which support we all desire Whether you are everyone voicing their to be heard. vo t i n g i n N e w F o r o u r H a m p s h i r e o r opinion rather than a voices to truly your home state, select group is really matter, our it is critical that participation everyone’s voices important.” m u s t b e are heard. a c t i ve a n d “ I t h i n k impactful. If - ELLIE BAKER ’22 definitely having your opinion structures which i s v o i c e d , support everyone but no one voicing their opinion rather than is around to hear it … did it really a select group of people is really make a sound? Here at Dartmouth, important,” Baker said. we have a lively student body with Registering to vote in New eclectic opinions. Our voices are Hampshire is also gaining attention “crying out in the wilderness,” and due to current legislation regarding we make certain that they are heard. voting. Sachin Shiva ’22 is from They say that the pen is mightier Illinois but is plans on voting in than the sword, but perhaps your New Hampshire. Shiva believes that most powerful tool is much closer his vote is more impactful in New than you’d imagine: your voice. All Hampshire as Illinois is typically a you have to do is use it.
MIRROR //7
Fact to Fiction: Confirmation Bias STORY
By Margaret Doyle
I’m a firm believer that astrology that have some significance for him is complete nonsense. Still, I’ll admit, from his own egocentric position in there are times when I’ve heard the total matrix.” More recently, in characteristics of an Aquarius, my “The Web of Belief,” philosophers zodiac sign, and thought to myself, Willard Quine and J.S. Ullian “Oh my God, that’s so me.” The describe this bias: “The desire to be reason I, and so many others, are so right and the desire to have been right susceptible to horoscopes is because are two desires, and the sooner we we want to believe them. According separate them the better off we are. to an article in The New York Times The desire to be right is the thirst for “Why Horoscopes Are Comforting,” truth. On all counts, both practical the more we can predict about our and theoretical, there is nothing but surroundings, the more confident we good to be said for it. The desire to feel about our survival. A longing for have been right, on the other hand, a sense of security is what influences is the pride that goeth before a fall. us to listen to whatever supports It stands in the way of our seeing horoscopes’ prognoses and disregard we were wrong, and thus blocks the whatever refutes them. This, in progress of our knowledge.” essence, is confirmation bias at work. I think most people vote out of Confirmation bias is our impulse a genuine wish for the betterment to be more drawn to and put more of the country. We all want to vote weight on evidence that aligns with for what’s right for the country, and our own beliefs. we just differ in how we see that This tendency is harmless with happening. However, because of horoscopes, but when applied to our political alienation and tribalism, political beliefs, confirmation bias we place more emphasis on having can be much more dangerous. been right. This need to have been Confirmation bias is not a new idea right obscures our attachment to the — in fact, it was first identified by the original goal of being right. ancient Greeks. In “The History of An article recently published the Peloponnesian War,” Thucydides in The New York Times, entitled identifies people’s tendency to pay “You’re Not Going to Change attention to facts selectively: “for Your Mind,” called attention to the it is a habit of mankind to entrust “troubling” fact that many issues over to careless which conservatives hope what “People tend to be in and liberals disagree t h e y l o n g — such as the effect certain communities, for, and to pollution has on the use sovereign and that leads them to environment, the r e a s o n t o be exposed to certain effect guns have thrust aside on safety and the what they do ways of thinking about effect immigration not desire.” things. If you arrive at has on the economy O n e o f are rooted in this belief about what — t h e m o s t fact rather than famous early you believe and who values. These issues s tudies on you are first, and then are indubitably confirmation c o m p l i c a t e d , bias actually are attracted to those yet indubitably u s e d kinds of people ... that empirical, which Dartmouth should mean that would be evidence of students as research will yield subjects. In this self verification answers. However, 1 9 5 4 , t wo process.” b e c a u s e o f psychologists confirmation bias, a n a l y z e d we don’t listen to s e l e c t i v e - JAY HULL, PYCHOLOGICAL facts unless they p e rc e p t i o n support what we AND BRAIN SCIENCES b y a s k i n g feel is true. Dartmouth PROFESSOR I n 2 0 1 4 , a n d w h e n R u s s i a P r i n c e t o n annexed Crimea, students to researchers Steven count all the Sloman and Philip rule infractions as they watched Fernbach conducted a survey asking a movie of a hotly contested respondents how they thought the Dartmouth vs. Princeton football U.S. should react to the annexation game. Princeton students saw the and also whether they could identify Dartmouth team make over twice Crimea on a map. As it turns out, the as many fouls as were seen by farther off they were geographically, Dartmouth students. The authors the more the respondents favored of the study concluded that “out of intervention. Sloman and Fernbach all the occurrences going on in the observed that, “As a rule, strong environment, a person selects those feelings about issues do not emerge
from deep understanding.” Consider for a moment that as an electorate, we do, though indirectly, determine whether the U.S. intervenes in Crimea. If our beliefs are founded on confirmation bias rather than deep understanding, what kind of future are we looking at? In another study conducted by the same professors, people were asked for their stance on political issues like healthcare, or merit-based pay for teachers. Respondents lowered how intensely they felt about their views after being asked to describe the impacts of the policies. In “The Enigma of Reason,” Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber developed the theory of “myside bias,” which surrounds the idea that humans aren’t randomly credulous. We are better at spotting the weaknesses in other people’s arguments than we are at spotting the flaws in our own logic. In a political context, this perpetuates polarization. Somewhere along the way, we lost the ability to see from other peoples’ point of view. Because we are so sure that we are correct, and so apt to spotting the flaws in others’ arguments, we assume their basis or values are different than ours. With the rise of tribalism in politics, our identities are intertwined with politics. According to pyschological and brain sciences professor Jay Hull, we find ecological niches that reinforce our views of ourselves. “People tend to be in certain communities, and that leads them to be exposed to certain ways of thinking about things,” he said. “If you arrive at this belief about what you believe and who you are first, and then are attracted to those kinds of people and those kinds of news sources, for example, that would be evidence of this self verification process.” One example of how we gravitate toward these niches is a Pew Research study that found Fox News was the main news source for 78 percent of people who identified as mostly or consistently conservative. “With the web leading to so many different opinions, and cable television leading to so many different outlets, you can find your niche … you’re very well protected from alternative points of view, and you’re given ready counters to arguments, so that you’re defended if you ever run into an argument,” Hull said. Our ability to truly and actively listen to others, and be open to change, will define our political climate. On this issue of confirmation bias, Hull says, “the antidote is both a free press, and a curious electorate who does their civic duty and tries to be as informed as possible, and who questions.”
8// MIRROR
Havana Affair COLUMN
By Alexandra Eldredge
Last year, I spent my fall term as an exchange student at the University of Havana, around the same time that you may have been listening to Camila Cabello’s hit song, “Havana.” Cabello’s lyrics do not lie — I am also left longing to return. Havana could not be any more different from Hanover. I don’t presume to know the ins and outs of Cuban culture, but I do have anecdotes aplenty to illustrate some of the differences between life there and life here. Havana is a rich, sensual city. While there my mind was saturated and, with no digital distractions, I felt a new surge of creativity. Instead of using my phone to mindlessly scroll through Instagram, I read and listened to music. That isn’t to say that I was without Internet for four months. As of June 2013, Cubans have been able to access the Internet through a state owned company called ETECSA. But it isn’t free. Prices change often — when I was there, it was the equivalent of $1 an hour. Like most things on the island, ETECSA and its spotty service is a source of humor. ETECSA has been made into the following acronym: Estamos Tratando de Establecer Comunicaciones Sin Apuro (we are trying to establish communication without rush). This exemplifies the good-natured Cuban humor. They find amusement in the absurdity of life there. “No es facil” (it’s not easy) seemed to be the unofficial national motto. My hostess would jovially declare “a la batalla” (off to battle!) before leaving home. I remember my first impression of the city was that it looked like it had been recently bombed. And that was before the devastating Hurricane Irma struck land. (We were lucky to be evacuated to North Carolina at the last minute.) I was in one of the finest neighborhoods in the capital city and every other building seemed to be in ruins. The architecture is inconsistent and reflects the many different phases Cuba has undergone. Brutalist, towering communist blocks are juxtaposed with characterful homes from the colonial past. Cuba’s history and politics is written in the buildings — the practicality of socialist housing next to quaint, neoclassical structures that valued aestheticism. On our first night out, my friend and I were approached by two young Cubans. While they were more interested in offering cheesy pick up lines, we were trying to invoke political opinions. Their answers were scarily textbook, as if they had been recited many times before. “Fidel is a good man who has done much for the Cuban people.” It was uncanny. On paper, this is true. Castro has ensured material provision, an impressive 99.8 percent of the population is literate and there is egalitarian access to healthcare. The United States cannot say the same.
However, what is so disquieting is the obvious self-censorship. These same boys ended up calling us incessantly, upwards of 20 times a day. We decided that they must be what’s known locally as “jineteros” — hustlers. A taxi driver I made friends with would speak freely with me, but only within the confines of his vehicle where the risk was low. To speak critically of the regime while walking down the street would be unthinkable. Alvaro, the taxi driver, advised me to not make any controversial comments at the university. He explained it is simply best to be agreeable and that outward complicity is just a part of life in Cuba. Even when in private, hushed tones descended on the room when any controversial political statements were made. Our hostess was a bold and spirited woman. It was strange to see her lowering her tone when talking about politics. But Cubans accommodate themselves to fit the regime, certainly not vice versa, the culture of surveillance infringing on their personality. We quickly learned the nuance and implications of language. For example: bloqueo vs. embargo, Fidel vs. Castro. Saying Fidel denotes affection and Castro is seen as a colder, more detached form of address. Saying “bloqueo,” the harsher of the two terms, suggests disapproval of the United States and “embargo” suggests that you are an American sympathizer. One day, a gallery guard, advanced in years, pulled my friend and I aside and seemed desperate to inform us of the tyranny and the false pretext of civilian liberty. He explained that once Cubans make it to Miami they drink “la Coca Cola del olvido,” the Coca Cola of indifference. I couldn’t understand why he took such risk as to tell us, strangers, his dissenting opinions. Perhaps, because he was in his final years, he had become more unguarded. It was rare to come by nonconforming political opinion. Looking back at photos, I was startled by the severity of the slogans. “Socialismo o muerte” (socialism or death) was a particularly common sight on walls and buildings. Only now that I am in America do I feel alarmed at this. I passed this kind of propaganda on a daily basis and did not think twice about it showing just how quickly I adjusted my idea of normal. Life on the island is collective and defined by communal living. As a result, there really are no secrets. Gossip lends itself to absolute state control. I never felt unsafe in Cuba, and that was in part thanks to the state vigilance. There is a nationwide network of stations called CDR: Committee of the Defense of the Republic. There was one every few blocks; a less benign version of neighborhood watch. This kind of infrastructure makes for incredibly tightknit communities. Individualism is so
highly valued in the United States that we were surprised to learn that “autosuficiente,” self-sufficient, has negative connotations. To the American mind, this would certainly be a complimentary descriptor. But to the Cuban, it suggests that someone thinks they are above others, too arrogant to ask for help. By being self-sufficient, someone is slighting the community, and in doing so violating a key socialist principle. Sharing is an integral part of Cuban culture. For example, if you are eating in front of others, whether in class or in a taxi, it is rude to not offer everyone a bite. If people take up your offer, they know to only take a small amount so that each person has some. Similarly, if someone invites friends to the cinema, it is assumed that they will pay. It is the duty of the person inviting to cover the cost for everyone. And, next week, someone else will invite you and cover your entrance fee. Money being an uncertain factor, this social model makes sense. I observed that there is also a greater sense of trust among people there. Cubans don’t queue. Rather, upon arrival, you ask who is last in line. Then you keep on eye on when they go and you know that you’ll be after them. And it works. We Americans feel so outraged when people cut in line; it is a reflection of our ugly competitiveness. Even Cuban transportation is collective; privately owned cars are rare. In fact, the old American cars Cuba is famed for are called “colectivos,” along with other names such as “máquina” (machine) and “almendrón” (almond). People fondly describe these taxis as Frankensteins because the engine will be German, the body will be American and the stereo Korean. These cars demand respect and gentle care. Prepare to be shouted out by the driver if you shut the door too forcefully. Like many things there, they work — but precariously. Bumping along with reggaeton blaring while picking up passengers on the side of the road made for a lively university commute. And at under 50 cents, we got our money’s worth. I did not have it in me to brave the “guagua” more than a handful of times. The guagua is the very cramped public bus and is how most Cubans travel. It costs four cents and you certainly get your four cents of luxury, no doubt nestled into a stranger’s armpit for the majority of the ride while also trying not to fly into the woman opposite’s bosom at every red light. I tended to splurge the extra 46 cents for the taxi colectivo with a guaranteed seat and often entertaining company. A tough skin was often necessary to be amused, rather than offended at Cubans’ bluntness. It is opposite of the current political correct culture in the United States. The three most common descriptors were “gordo,” “flaco” and
Alex posed with a furry friend in Havana, Cuba.
“chino”: fat, thin and Chinese. They are meant as neutral observations, or even terms of affection. There are very few independently standing stores or businesses. Instead, people run enterprises from their homes. The domestic merged with the commercial and made for friendships between owners and customers. I made friends with three women who ran a beauty salon, “Corpus Habana,” in my neighborhood. One day I arrived to a beauty salon in my neighborhood with a breakout, which did not go unnoticed. I was greeted with gasps and one exclaiming “tienes cara feita hoy” — the literal translation is “you have an ugly face today.” This was a tad offensive at the time, but hilarious in retrospect. I remain in regular contact with these women (thanks ETECSA!). Their kindness toward me was very moving; I got sick once and they immediately called their doctor friend to come help. On the whole, the Cuban people I met were extraordinarily giving and especially generous with their time. They are not reticent. We were all touched by their extensions of friendship and general warmth. However, we all knew truly blending in was never going to happen. Cat calls were so frequent for the women that many of us resorted to walking around with headphones. The American men, on the other hand, were often accosted by prostitutes while walking in typically “touristy” parts of our neighborhood. As a woman, I never encountered this. However, I was at the jazz café opposite a well known hotel in the area and to my left were two young Cuban women who were clearly the paid company of two corpulent old men, tourists no doubt. In my first few weeks in Havana, I tried running along the Malecón, the seafront road. However, this effort was not sustained due to the slickness of the pavement and the catcalling men. On my runs, I was surprised to see that there were condoms strewn about the sidewalk. Naturally, I assumed this was the site of salacious meetings. I
COURTESY OF ALEXANDRA ELDREDGE
was wrong. Fishermen use condoms as makeshift bait. Apparently, when underwater, they resemble worms. This is a typical example of Cuban ingenuity which characterizes life on the island. Eventually, I abandoned running in favor of a gym which, rather unconventionally, was nestled in the basement of a synagogue. In this gym there were many water bottles filled with an unknown substance. I thought perhaps it was protein powder. As it turns out, it was sand. They had made free weights out of water bottles. Cuban innovation is very impressive. They do not let material deficiencies become insurmountable obstacles. If America were a personality, it would be Type A. Cuba, Type B. There, one has no choice but to relinquish control. Frequently we would return from the gym to find there was no running water. The unreliable electricity is best exemplified by the elevator in our apartment block. We were living on the 14th floor, so we made frequent use of the elevator. I consider myself lucky to have never been stuck in the elevator. My poor roommate could not say the same. One day, the elevator stopped in between two floors. Much to our horror, and later amusement, a man on the floor below grabbed her legs and pulled her down into his apartment. Writing this piece has transported me back to Cuba, a time-machine of a country oft used by others as a form of escapism. I felt delightfully disconnected while living on the island. The North American pace of life felt far off, even though there are a mere 103 miles separating the two nations. For many Cubans, it seems that the island is not a form of escapism, but entrapment. Yet Cubans have strong community, low crime, grit and an innovative spirit. They do not rely on smart phones. So often we use capitalist structures to measure our wellbeing. Cubans do not quantify their lives like we do. I have come to the conclusion that what we lack, they have in abundance.